Increased River Releases Force Partial Closure Of Mokelumne River

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY (CBS13) –Officials are releasing more water from Comanche Reservoir into the Mokelumne River forcing parts of the river to be closed.

East Bay Municipal Utility District, which runs Comanche Reservoir, has increased releases from the dam from 3,000 cubic feet per second to 5,000 cubic feet per second to make way for runoff from Tuesday's storm and snowmelt.

The high releases are creating extremely dangerous conditions on the river.  EBMUD is closing the Mokelmune River Day Use Area below Comanche Dam as a precaution.  The San Joaquin Sheriff's Office says it will also likely close the River below Camanche Reservoir.

"The Mokelumne is running, faster, higher and colder than usual and is full of debris, both above and below the water's surface. These conditions create an extremely unsafe environment for swimmers and rafters on the river. The Sheriff's Office will continue to monitor the river's conditions," said Michael Wallis, EBMUD director of Operations and Maintenance.

The last time releases from Camanche Reservoir were this high was back in 1997.